See how a mother and daughter teamed up to slim down for good

Path to Health

Path to Health

Caryn (left): Before 405 lbs

Michele (right): Before 275 lbs

Caryn: I've struggled with my weight since I was 5 years old. I've tried every possible diet, and even though I often lost weight at first, I always gained it back (and then some). The diet and exercise changes I made never felt permanent, and I wasn't motivated to stick with them. I felt like I was a lost cause and destined to be obese.

In early 2010, I was just over 400 pounds. I could barely walk or breathe. I was desperate but had no idea how I could lose so much weight on my own. My daughter Michele also wanted to lose weight and encouraged me to try again. This time, she said, we could be a support system for each other.

Halfway There!

Halfway There!

When I lost 100 pounds, my coworkers threw me a salad bar party to celebrate. (Michele was down about 50 pounds!)

How We Did It

Michele and I signed up for Weight Watchers soon after our conversation. We followed the points program, which allowed us to keep track of everything we ate but still left room for treats. I never felt deprived, so it was easy to stick with the plan.